Although the winter maximum ice extent in March 2017 was the smallest on record, the summer minimum didn't follow suit. This summer's minimum ice extent was the eighth smallest on record, continuing the long-term trend of sea ice loss, but not setting a new record.

Unusual weather conditions in 2017—including a blizzard caused by the remnants of 2016's Hurricane Nicole and a short surface melt season—are behind preliminary estimates of a small gain in ice mass on the Greenland Ice Sheet this year.